Llama Fetuses at the Mercado de las
Brujas
La Paz, Bolivia 1996
James Patton
I have still not been able to determine how the fetuses are acquired.
Llama are very common in the Bolivian highlands as pack and meat animals.
The killing of the adult llama, or the dangerous physical extraction of
the fetus seems unlikely, so I assume that one of the many reputedly strong
herbal abortives is used. The fetuses are an integral part of Aymara and
Incan seasonal festivals. They are generally part of what is called a
“White Table” -- a collection of fetishes (including candies
shaped like cars and houses), fake money, ribbons, and colorful foil -
that is prayed over and then lit aflame with the help of the grain alcohol
that the priest is drinking.
© 2002 The
Fletcher School, Tufts University